Switch-box support



Patented sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED sTATEs A 1,553,696 PATENT oFF-ICE.

l rmmoNr s. KAY, or MonLAND, KANSAS.

SWITCH-BQX SUPPORT,

appucatien mea July s,

To all 'whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FREMONT S. KAY, a citizen. of the--United States, and residentof Morland, county of Graham, State of 'Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switch-Box Supports (Case A), of which the following 1s a complete specification. y

The present invention relates .to su porting means for electric switch boxes, a apted for use where switch boxes are-being installed inside the walls or partitions of a building, and aims to provide a novel and v'or new building structures.'

improved device which may be conveniently installed in position for properly supporting a switch box in connection witheit ier old Accordingly, I have devised a construction which comprises a supporting member to which the switch box is adapted to be conveniently applied', the supporting member being adapted fork convenient attach! ment to oneof the studs or joists of the wall or partition, and also provided with means for aor'ding secure retaining engagement with a lath strip associated with the usual horizontal laths of the wall or' partition.

More specifically, the invention comprises a supporting member formed as a housing adapted to partially enclose the switch box, and having provision at one side of the housin for attachment to the adjacent joist or stu while at the opposite side of the housing the same isformed with one or more elements adapted for retaining engagement with a vertical lath strip secured to the horizontal laths of the wall.

It is also sought to rovide a practical, compact and elicient evice for fuliilling the desired functions, and one which may be manufactured at com aratively small ex 1922. Serial No. 572,377.

in position preparatory to the application of the plastering;

Figure y2 is a perspective view, looking r at the structure from the rear; and

Figure 3 is a section takenon the line III-HI of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates the improved device in its operative relation to a,wall structure, which may be either one .of the outside walls vor a `partition wall of a building, composed of the usual horizontal laths 7 attached to a stud o1" upright joi'st 6. Where the switch boxes 5 are located beforethe plastering is applied to the wall, it is customary to make 'use of a board which is cut with an opening for accommodating the switch box, and then nailed in place,v in the required position between two studs or joists, some of the lath strips 7 being removed for this purpose. Other expedients have been employed as substitutes for such a board construction, but havenot been found suiiicientlypracvtical or have proved too complicated, and

I have therefore devised a supporting member which is adapted to be conveniently stamped out of sheet metal to form a hous- 1 ing bracket of somewhat U-form, the intermediate portion 8 of which is designed to be secured by means of screws 9 to the adjacent stud or joist 6, the parallel leg portions 10 being'spaced apart and thus adapted to accommodate one or more box units 5. These boxes 5.are of common construction, adaptedl to be assembled side by' side and connected together in a well known manner.

The leg portions 10 of the supporting member are also provided with marginal ver tical iianges l2 provided with bolt or screw openings 13 for the purpose of registering with similar openings 14 in the attaching plates 15 carried by the box 5. Each of the box units 5 is also provided with the usual screw sockets 16 for the attachment of the customary face plate (not shown) ilush with the linished plastered surface. Since the attaching plates 15 are formed withslots l5 and thereby adjustably secured to the box units 5 by the usual attaching screws 25, it is apparent that the boxes 5 may be shifted in or out with reference to the supporting member, according to the requirements of either old or new wall construction; that iS to say, the device is adapted for use whether the plastering has been applied to the laths.

or not, the adjustment vof the plates l5 adapting the outer edge of the box to be .of box units 5 to be supported, and a pair -ot screw openings'l being provided in each of the anges 12 for each box unit to be carried. The vertical lath strip 18 is tacked to about four of the horizontal laths 7, said vertical strip being snugly fitted into the recesses 17 of both of the leg 'members 10, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The principal function to be served by a device of this character is not merely to' alp low the box, 5 to be located in the desired position, but to firmly' and securely support the same against an downward sagging tendency and also against the stresses which are applied in the plasteringoperation aS well as later in the use of the electric switch or any pressure which might be casually exerted against the finished surface of the wall. All of theserequirements are fully met in the present device, as is .apparent roma mere inspection of Figure 2 of the drawing. Obviously, the supporting member cannot yield materially in a backward direction on account of the en agement of its forked terminals with the lat strip 18 carried by theJ horizontal laths 7, and also on account of the braced character of the leg portions 1() extending lon a diagonal with reference to the intermediate portion 8; like-l wise, there can be very little tendency toward downward sagging, after the switch boxes are in position, since the supporting member is formed as a housing lfor the boxes which are fitted between the leg portions of the housing, and the intermediate portion of the latter is nailed flat and securely to the Aface of the stud or joist 6.

While I have .illustrated and described what I now regard as one practical and efficient formof the construction, I desire to reserve the right'to make all such changes or modifications as may fairlyand properly fall within the scope of the appended claims. WhatI claim is: 1. A- supporting structure for switch boxes comprising, in combination with a stud, horizontal laths terminating short of said stud to provide space for said, box, a

`vertical lath strip secured to the ends of said horizontal laths, and a supporting member having a contour conforming to the outlines of the switch box. for embracing the same and having one'side of said member secured to said stud, theJ other side of said member being provided with a retaining element in engagement with said vertical lath strip, said supporting member being formed with a flange resting against the rear face of a horizontallath and having means of attachmentto said box.

2. Asupportingfstructure for switch boxes comprising, in combination l withV a stud, horizontal lath terminating short ofA said stud to provide space for said box, a vertical lath strip secured to the ends of said horizontal laths, and a Ushaped4housing member partiallyl enclosing the box, the in termediate portion of said housing being attached to said stud and the end portions of said housingterminating in forls engaging said vertical lath strip.

In'witness whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

FREMONT S. KAY. 

